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Encouraging people to break technology fix

Interior Savings is behind the Unplug Challenge, taking place in Kelowna Jan. 23 to 30.
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Interior Savings senior leadership team practice handing over their phones in anticipation of the unplug challenge: (from left) Karen Hawes

How much time do you spend connected to your smartphone, tablet or computer?

That’s the question Interior Savings is posing to local businesses while challenging them to unplug.

The Unplug Challenge is to bring awareness to Interior Savings Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week coming to the Central Okanagan and Kamloops Jan 23 to 30. It is a week of activities promoting the balance of technology use with family and friend time, creative pursuits, recreation, and connection to nature.

As presenting sponsor of the Week, Interior Savings chief executive officer Kathy Conway says the credit union is getting behind this event because of the powerful and important message it carries for communities.

“As a local credit union, our success is closely tied to the health and vitality of the communities we serve,” said Conway. “The purpose of the challenge is to get everyone, not just families, thinking and talking about the positive impacts that come from unplugging. Our communities are much stronger when we take the time to connect and interact in person.”

Interior Savings has rolled out an Unplug Challenge to their staff and is inviting local businesses to join them in unplugging. However, Conway cautions with a smile, “It’s not for the faint of heart.”

The following three events will be the focal points of the week-long challenge:

Monday, Jan 25, is Mobile Free Day. Can you put your mobile phone away for a whole day? Perhaps the toughest of the three-day challenge, Interior Savings is encouraging a day-long ban on what many consider to be as critical as food and water.

Tuesday, Jan 26, is Facebook Free Day. Though normally posting on Facebook daily, Interior Savings has committed to a day of silence on their Facebook page, and is encouraging businesses to ignore their business and/or personal Facebook feeds for the day as well.

Wednesday, Jan. 27, is Email Free Day. Within reason of course! Wherever possible, Interior Savings is encouraging businesses to call or chat with their customers, clients, and co-workers face-to-face instead of emailing.

If your business accepts the challenge, tag Interior Savings on Facebook with a description of how you participated and include the hashtag #unplugandplay. You’ll be entered for a chance to win an Unplug and Play prize pack valued at $250 which you could raffle off or give to someone deserving. One lucky winner will be randomly chosen.

Contest closes at midnight on Saturday, Jan.30. Contest rules and regulations at https://www.interiorsavings.com/SharedContent/documents/2016_InteriorSavingsContestRules.pdf .

For more information on Interior Savings Unplug and Play go to https://mailer.myinteriorsavings.com/newsletter/january-e-newsletter/